Medical Malpractice in Thailand occurs when healthcare professionals violate their duty to provide treatment aligned with accepted medical standards and practices. This can result in physical, emotional, or financial harm to patients.
Victims may seek compensation from their medical providers for their injuries. However, award amounts are often lower than in Western countries.
Patient Rights
Patients in Thailand have a number of avenues available to them for seeking redress in the event they are harmed by medical negligence. Depending on the circumstances, victims may file a claim with the Medical Council, or take legal action through the courts.
Generally, the Medical Council acts as a government oversight body, monitoring doctor misconduct and providing a complaint process. Serious cases of malpractice can lead to disciplinary action against the physician’s license.
Patients are also entitled to fully informed consent, meaning that healthcare providers must explain the proposed treatment, its risks and available alternatives before a procedure. A medical negligence attorney can help to navigate these legal intricacies and build a strong case on behalf of the patient. Compensation awards are generally based on verifiable and actual harm, including lost income, medical and rehabilitation costs. Intangible damages such as pain and suffering are also awarded, though they tend to be lower than in some Western nations.
Complaints
Medical Malpractice in Thailand is a serious issue that has significant impact on the lives of its victims. Whether the malpractice is dental or medical, a victim of negligence should have his/her Thailand lawyer pursue compensation from the appropriate institution. In general, Thai courts tend to limit damages awarded to plaintiffs to quantifiable losses such as present and future lost wages and expenses. Damages for pain and suffering are less frequently awarded, especially in comparison to Western countries.
Informed consent is also a key component of the medical profession and patients have the right to be fully informed about risks, benefits, and alternatives of a proposed medical procedure or treatment. In addition, the Medical Council of Thailand plays a regulatory role by investigating and addressing complaints regarding doctors. However, critics argue that the lawsuit system discourages competent doctors from entering the medical profession and deters current doctors from filing claims out of fear of being convicted of malpractice.
Legal Representation
A lawsuit against a medical professional for malpractice will require expert witnesses to establish the standard of care and the extent to which the healthcare provider deviated from that standard. Compensation awards in Thailand typically include verifiable financial harm, including current and future loss of income, as well as medical and rehabilitation expenses. Intangible damages, such as emotional distress, are also awarded, although damage awards for these kinds of losses tend to be lower in Thailand than in some Western nations.
While Thailand has a reputation for medical tourism, its healthcare system is not immune to issues of malpractice. The country’s legal system, regulatory bodies, and healthcare institutions work together to address these issues through a combination of mechanisms that seek both accountability and patient safety. Medical malpractice claims are heard in both civil and criminal courts, with cases of severe negligence often resulting in criminal prosecution as well. Patients who experience medical malpractice should seek out experienced representation to ensure their rights are protected and that they receive fair compensation.
Damages
Oftentimes, a victim of medical malpractice in Thailand must go through lengthy and arduous legal proceedings to receive the compensation they deserve. A skilled and experienced Thailand lawyer, like SIAM CENTER LAW GROUP law firm can significantly increase your chances of a successful result in your civil medical malpractice trial.
In order for a medical practitioner to be found guilty of malpractice, he or she must have deviated from the accepted standards of practice in his or her field. In addition, there must be an injury or loss to the patient as a direct result of such a deviation from the standard of care.
In general, Thai courts tend to gravitate toward awarding damages for quantifiable losses, such as those incurred or to be incurred in the future. As a result, it is rare that compensation for unquantifiable damage awards such as pain and suffering or emotional shock are awarded. This is partly due to the hierarchical structure of Thailand’s society, in which “saving face” is considered very important.